The current Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River was completed in 1920.  There are four impressive bridge tender houses. Only the N.W. and the S.E. house bridge controls.  The remaining two are ornamental.

     In 1928, bas relief sculptures depicting various scenes from Chicago history were added to each house .  The northern sculptures were commissioned by William Wrigley,Jr.   The sculptor was James Fraser.

    The theme of the northwest sculpture was Pioneers.  It depicts two of Chicago earliest settlers.  These were John Baptiste Pointe DuSable and John Kinzie.  Unfortunately, the plaque beneath the sculpture is worned and unreadable.  It read “The Pioneers– John Kinzie, fur trader, settled near this spot in the early years of the nineteenth century.  One of a band of courageous pioneers–who with their lives at stake–struggled through the wilderness, breaking soil for the seeds of a future civilization.” 

     The theme of the north east tower is Discoverers.  It commemorates four European explorers Louis Joliet and Father Jacque Marquette, Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur Dr LaSalle and Henri Dr Tonti

     The sculptures on the southern bridge houses were commissioned by the B.F. Ferguson Monument Fund.  The sculptor was Henry Hering.

     The theme of the S.W tower is defense.  This depicts the Fort Dearborn Massacre of 1812.  Over 50 people were killed by the Potawatomi Indians who were allied with British during the War of 1812.

     The theme of the S.E. Tower is Regeneration.  This commemorates the great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the rising of the city from the ashes.

     The 104th Avenue (Willow Springs Road) Bridge crosses the Cal Sag Canal in Palos in Cook County.   It is a metal 8 panel bolt-connected, polygonal Warren through truss, fixed and approach spans: metal stringer (multi beam ) fixed.  

     The bridge was built in 1964.  The builder/contractor is unknown.  Engineer/Design was Alfred Benesch and Associates.

     Main span is 290 feet.

    Structure length is 406 feet

     Roadway width is 28 feet

    There is one main span and four approach spans.

    The bridge was designed so that it could be later modified to a vertical lift bridge.  This was never done.

     Bridge Inspection (March, 2015)

Superstructure.         Condition   Rating.    Fair.   5 out of 9

Substructure.             Condition   Rating.     Satisfactory    6 out of 9

Deck                             Condition    Rating       Fair.      5 out of 9

Sufficiency Rating.    59.5 out of 100

     The Edison Bridge crosses the Caloosahatchee River connecting Fort Myers with North Fort Myers.  The bridge is also known as  US Business 41.  The current bridge is actually 2 separate bridges– one for northbound and the other for southbound traffic.   Each bridge has  3 lanes and is 55 feet high.  They land at the same point in the north side and are separated by three blocks on the south side.  Bridges were built in the early 1990’s.    They are concrete girders bridges

     The current bridge was replacement of a prior structure built in 1931.  It was dedicated by Thomas Edison.  He was the first individual to drive across it.  It was a single two lane lost bascule drawbridge  It was replaced in 1992.

History added 4/22/2018.

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     One of the four drawbridges across the Caloosahatchee River in Lee County, Florida is the Wilson Pigott Bridge (named after a former Lee County Commissioner). It is located near Fort Myers Shores.  This structure is also known as the State Road 31 Bridge.  This is a bascule type bridge.

     It was built in 1960.  It is a two lane structure.  It is 27 feet tall.  It was built to replace a swing bridge at Olga.  This previous bridge was located 3 miles downstream.  It has been built in 1911 and was demolished shortly before the construction of the Wilson Pigott Bridge.

     The W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam is a navigable structure located on the Caloosahatchee River near Olga, Florida 33 miles upstream of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. It was built in 1965 by the Army Corps of Engineers at a cost of $3.8 million dollars.  It is also currently maintained by the Corps.

    The lock and dam were built for flood and water control and as a preventative measure against salt water intrusion.

     The lock chamber was constructed of concrete and welded structural steel gates and concrete bays.  Dimensions are 56 feet wide; 400 feet long; and 14 feet high.  Lock lift is 2 to 3 feet.  During a one year period, 15,000 vessels pass through the locks.

 

      The Seminole Gulf Railroad crosses the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers, Florida.   The original bridge at this site was built as a swing bridge by the Alantic Coast Line Railroad in 1903.  This bridge was modified in 1977.  The main span was converted to a bascule through truss drawbridge.    The approaches to the bridge are wooden trestles.  Many railroads have used this crossing including:  Alantic Coast Railroad, CSX Railroad, Family Lines System, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad,  Seaboard System Railroad, Seminole Gulf Railroad.

Posted 4/20/2018

     There have been four bridges traversing traversing the North Branch Chicago River at Fullerton Avenue (2400 West; 1850) east to west 4.8 miles from the river mouth.  

     The current bridge is the fourth bridge at this site.  It was built in stages.  The two northern lanes were built first. The prior bridge remained in place June to December 1960.  The old bridge was then dismantled and the four remaining lanes of the new bridge were constructed.  The completed bridge officially opened on September 21, 1961.It

     The bridge is a fixed steel and reinforced concrete structure.  It is 277 feet long and 80 feet wide.

     Contractors were:

Design:                    Division of Bridges and Viaducts City of Chicago

Construction:       William E. Schweitzer and Company

     Construction costs were $ 1.35 million.  

     Before the first bridge at Fullerton Avenue could be built, the street had to be extended from Ashland Avenue to the river.  The municipalities of Chicago and Lakeview both contributed to  construction costs 3/4 and 1/4 respectively.

     The bridge opened in 1874.  It was a fixed iron bridge   It was 225 feet long and 20 feet wide.

     Contractors were:

Design:                                             Fox and Howard

Construction Contractor:          Fox and Howard

     Construction costs were $5,000.  The bridge was removed In 1877.

     The second bridge at Fullerton Avenue was a wood and iron hand operated swing structure.  It was funded with contributions from Chicago ( 2/3) and Lakeview (1/3).

     Contractors were:

Design:                     Unknown

Construction:         I.W. Lavin Company       of

     Construction costs were $7,444.   The bridge was removed In 1894-5.

     The third bridge at this site opened in 1895.: It was a Pratt through Truss swing bridge. It rested on a rim bearing turntable.   It carried both traffic and street cars of the North Chicago Street Railway Company.  It was 164 1/2 feet long and 18 feet wide.  It had 5 feet sidewalks.  It was originally hand operated.  It was later converted to electric powered.

     Contractors were:

Design:                                                    Chicago Bridge and Iron Company

Superstructure Contractor:   Chicago Bridge and Iron Company

Substructure Contractor:       FitzSimmons and Connell Company

     Construction costs were $27,753.   The bridge was removed In December, 1960.

  Posted 1/31/2018

   For a short period of time (1836-1840) there were bridges at Pearson Street and Union Street crossing the North Branch Chicago River.  The bridges were Fixed wood bent.  Designer was unknown.  Construction contractor was unknown.  Costs were unknown.